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Go!Durban<br />

Introduction<br />

Integrated public transport systems have been shown to be critical to spatially<br />

transforming urban spaces in <strong>cities</strong> such as Curitiba in Brazil. These systems<br />

may include underground, commuter rail systems, light rail, trams and bus<br />

rapid transit (BRT). Over 160 <strong>cities</strong> around the world have implemented bus<br />

rapid transit (BRT) or high-quality bus corridors, most of them since 2002<br />

(Embarq, n.d.). Benefits of BRT include improved overall travel times, changes<br />

in vehicle operating costs (private vehicles and public transit), reduction in<br />

CO 2<br />

emissions and exposure to local air pollutants, improved road safety<br />

benefits and changes in physical activity (ibid).<br />

In 2008, Cabinet approved the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN) policy to be rolled out in<br />

major <strong>cities</strong> in South Africa. This policy involved a major restructuring of public transport, with new<br />

infrastructure, vehicles, electronic ticketing and improved security. Several South African <strong>cities</strong> are implementing<br />

IRPTNs that include BRT systems, notably Rea Vaya in Johannesburg and MyCiTi in Cape Town. In eThekwini,<br />

Go!Durban is the brand name for the city’s IRPTN. It is a collaboration between all three spheres of government:<br />

national government provides policy support and funding, provincial government supports the management<br />

of the project, and the eThekwini Municipality is responsible for planning and implementation. The programme<br />

is one of the key pillars integral to the stimulation of economic growth in the region.<br />

People Mover bus stop<br />

Source: F. Kitchin<br />

Go!Durban aims to promote transport that is universally accessible to all of Durban’s citizens. The objective is<br />

to provide seamless transfers across transport modes, creating ease of access at stations and precincts, using<br />

electronic ticketing and providing passenger safety and security. There will be 190 km of road-based corridors<br />

development. The first phase includes the development of high quality public transport linkages between<br />

Bridge City, Durban Central, Pinetown, Umlazi and Umhlanga.<br />

338 State of South African Cities Report 2016

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